Third-seeded Salisbury started strong and held on late to take its first game in the 2014 NCAA regional tournament, a 9-8 win over sixth-seeded John Carroll University on Wednesday afternoon in Marietta, Ohio. 

With the win, the Sea Gulls (34-7) advance in the winner's bracket of the eight-team regional and will play second-seeded Case Western, a 6-2 winner over seventh-seeded Thomas More, on Thursday at 8 p.m. 

Senior Quinn Griffith went 3-for-5 with two RBI, junior Bobby Sanzone posted two hits and two RBI, and senior Bill Root tallied two RBI and junior Jordan Gowe went 3-for-3 with a run scored. 

Salisbury jumped out to an early lead, with a six-run second inning. The Sea Gulls loaded the bases with a single by junior Austin Barefoot, setting the stage for senior Ken O'Neill. The Lothian, Md., native put the ball in play, with Sanzone and Gowe scoring on a John Carroll (24-16) error.

Root followed with a triple to left center to drive in Barefoot and O'Neill for a 4-0 SU lead. Junior Kyle Hayman plated Root with a single up the middle and would proceed to steal second.

Two batters later, senior Griffith capped the scoring for the inning with a single to left field. The Federalsburg, Md., native was cut down at second after the throw went through to the plate but the damage was done.

The Blue Streaks got on the board with a pair of runs in the third, but Salisbury extended its lead an inning later.

Hayman led off the fourth inning with a walk and advanced to second with a single by freshman Pete Grasso. Griffith picked up his second RBI of the contest with a single through the left side to plate Hayman for a 7-2 Salisbury lead.

Following a Johnny Schiotis sacrifice bunt to advance Griffith to second and Grasso to third, Sanzone singled to left and scored both runners for a 9-2 advantage.

John Carroll scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to cut the Salisbury lead to 9-4, before furiously rallying in the ninth with a four-run frame to pull within one at 9-8.  

Reliever Dan Fein escaped the jam for the Sea Gulls, however, recording the final three outs and the save to give Salisbury the victory.

Sea Gull starter Brett Collacchi worked the first six innings, giving up three runs on nine hits.